Woman acquitted after keeping body in shed

AN Adelaide woman has been acquitted of murder by a judge who found she had stored her partner's body in her shed for six months and told neighbours, "I killed him".

In acquitting Caroline Ruth Koenig, Justice Richard White said the crown had not excluded the reasonable possibility that Gregory Ellbourn died as a result of suicide, accidental overdose or self harm.

The fact that Ms Koenig did not report the death and her "extraordinary conduct" in storing his body was highly suggestive she was involved in killing Mr Ellbourn, the judge said on Wednesday.

But given that 14 to 16 hours before he died Mr Ellbourn made a significant attempt at suicide or self-harm, the judge said he could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that his death was not caused by similar conduct.

Ms Koenig sobbed on hearing the verdict, while Mr Ellbourn's family left court in tears saying they were shocked and saddened by the decision.

The 46-year-old had pleaded not guilty in the SA Supreme Court to murdering Mr Ellbourn, her partner since 2008, at her Christie Downs home on May 8 or 9, 2011.

His decomposing body was found dumped on the roadside at Myponga, south of Adelaide, on November 11, 2011.

The crown alleged she poisoned him with drugs prescribed to her, because she wanted his money.

Justice White, who heard the trial without a jury, found the circumstantial case against Ms Koenig was strong, noting that by May 2011 the relationship had soured badly.

"While he loved the accused, she had come to loathe him and to regard him with contempt.

"Her remaining interest in him was principally of a financial kind."

He found that the evidence, including from two men who said she offered them money to kill Mr Ellbourn, strongly indicated she wished him to be dead.

She stood to benefit financially from his death and told lies about his whereabouts when he disappeared.

The judge said Ms Koenig's statement to her neighbours on May 12, 2011, that she "killed him" must have referred to Mr Ellbourn.

"Theoretically at least, that admission may have been only an acknowledgment of her moral responsibility for Mr Ellbourn's death and not that she had actually killed him."

The prosecuting case was strong, but the judge stressed the importance of an SMS message sent to a friend from Mr Ellbourn's phone on the morning of May 8.

It read: "I at beach. Tok sum pills. She no want me a? I love her so much. Dont now wat 2do?".

Ms Koenig's barrister had emphasised evidence that indicated Mr Ellbourn loved Ms Koenig and had become emotionally disturbed when they split up for a time in March 2010.